Oil burner



Not 11, 194-1. -W. H. DE LAQcEY OIL BURNER Filed on. 24, 1939' 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOfi v M/l/PRfi/V h. Dam/max BY A'ITO NYS Nov. 11,1941.

w. H. DE LANCEY OIL BURNER Filed Oct. 24', 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 k uh i m w 6' I \v \mu w WM, m mu w Tmmamm w a m KE III 1NV ENTOR MR/wA/HDaM/ay BY I T m I a ATTOR VS -Nov. 11, 1941.? H. DE LANCEY I 2,2

on. wanna Filed Oct. 24, 1939 "4 sheets-sheet 4' INVENTOR Patented Nov. 11, 1941 v on. BURNER. Warren H. De Lancey, Springfield, Mass, assignor to Gilbert & Barker Manufacturi ng Company,

West Springfield, Mass., a corporation oLMassacliusetts Application October 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in burners of oil or other fluid fuel susceptible of use therein.

The invention has for one object the provision of -a burner having means, whereby the shape .of the flame maybe varied over a wide range and made to fit fireboxes of various shapes and sizes.

More particularly, the invention has for an object to provide a plurality of air directors, some of which direct the air to the flame with a whirling motion and tend to broaden the flame, and others of which direct the air to the flame in adirection longitudinally thereof, tending to elongate the flame.

The invention alsohas' for an object to procontrolling the air supply-entering through the aforesaid directors whereby the proportion of. air that is whirled around the flame and the proportion of air that is directed forwardly of the flame may be varied. By properly adjusting the controlling means, theshape of the flame may be varied from a long, narrow flame of nearly pencil-like shape to a short, wide flame of substantially the'shape of an umbrella.

The invention also has for an object the provision of a barrel-like air head having in its 24, 1939, Serial N0. 301,014

Figs. 4 and 5 are cross sectional views taken on.

the lines 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 2;

Figs. 6, land 8 are fragmentary-cross sectional views taken on the lines 66, 'l-I and 8--8, re-

spectively of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary bottom plan view with r the air tube shown in section to reveal the operating means for the air valves.

' vide easily and conveniently operable means" for Referring to these drawings; the burner includes a supporting frame; comprising a vertically-disposed member l0 (Fig. 1) supported in a manner to permit vertical adjustment from two posts II, which in turn are flked to a base plate l2. This member ID is approximately rectangular in shape and supports along its upper edge and along its two side edges a hood l3, which with the member forms an enclosure (Fig. 2) for the motor, oil pump and transformer. A sheet metal periphery two circular series of slots-one series having associated therewith deflectors for the stood as the detailed description proceeds and they will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Y purpose of whirling the air around the axis of member l4, upstanding from base l2 and-fixed thereto along its rear edge and both side edges,

cooperates with the hood to more nearly complete the aforesaid enclosure.

The fan housing is formed as a part of the supporting member Ill. The latter has a deep recess (Fig. 2) in its front face surrounded by a marginal wall l5 of the shape best shown in Fig. 6

and closed at the back by a flat back wall it.

The recess is closed at the front by a thin, sheetmetal plate ll, set into the member ID as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and secured thereto by a series of screws l8 (Fig. 1). The recess forms the fan housing l9 and an approximately cylindrical connecting chamber 20 which communicates with, and virtually forms a part of the air tube of the burner. The plate I! has an upper circular opening 2| therein, forming an inlet to the fan housing I9, and a lower tubular part 22 in which The invention will be disclosed with reference I to the accompanying drawlngsin which, v

Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of a. burner embodying the invention,--the hood thereof being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view 3-3 of Fig. 2;

view thereof,

taken on the line i i 55 motor by cap screwsv 34.. The plate 33 projects is fixed the inner end of the cylindrical air tube 23 of the burner.

The fan rotor is shown at 24 in section in Fig. 2 and it is direct-driven from an electric motor 25, which also drives an oil pump 26. The back wall It has a circular opening 21 therein to admit the fan rotor. The motor is supported from the back wall l6, preferably by a resilient, shockabsorbing mounting. For example, a substantially semi-cylindricalcradle 28 (Fig. 1) which encompasses the lower half of motor 25, supports the latter by means of rubber blocks 29. The cradle has two lugs 30 which are clamped by cap screws 3| against the back wall l6. Each rubber block 29 has fixed thereto'two metal plates 32 and 33,'one on each side thereof. The-plate 32 projects above the block 29 and is fixed to the 3; escapes below the block 2% and is fixed to the adjacent end of cradle 28 by bolts 35.

Below the motor 25 is an ignition transformer 38 (Figs. 1 and 2) and. this transformer is utilized as a closure for the circular opening 37 in the rear wall of chamber at. The back wall it of supporting member at has formed thereon a vertically disposedhollow-cylindrical part 33 (Fig. l) for receiving a hinge pin 39. The transformer 855 is secured by two cap screws to (Fig. 3) to a piste iii. Each cap screw has a washer ii) between-its head and plate M. The plate ti has upper and lower verticallyspaced parts 62 which extend beyond one end of the transformer and are rolled upinto hollow cylindrical formto receive the hinge pin 39. The adjacent ends of these parts 62 engage opposite ends of the part 38. The transformer is thus hinged to the supporting member it. A hole 43 (Figs. 1 and 3) is formed in wall 56 adjacent the hinge described and so located as to receive and closely fit the washer 3W of that cap screw 40 which lies nearest to the hinge connection. Opposite such connection, a recess 44 is formed in the wall It for the purpose of receiving and closely fitting the washer 40' of the other cap screw 40; When the transformer is moved to the tube-closing position shown in Fig. 3, one of the washers 6t enters the hole 43 and the other the recess 44 to accurately locate the transformer in the desired position. To releasably hold the transformer in such position, a spring latch 15 (Fig. 3) fixed at one end by screws 46 to member In, has its other end formed to engage over the protruding end 41 of plate 4|. The transformer has two high tension-terminals 48, each s pported by an insulator 49.

Within the air tube 23 is an assembly, whichis quickly and conveniently removable through the outer end of the tube, when the plate ll is unlatohed and swung into tube-opening position. This assembly is releasably held in place in the tube by a knurled nut 58 on stud the latter being engaged in an open-ended slot 52 (Fig. 2),

' formed in the lowermost part of wall ii at the extreme lower end of chamber 20. When the nut 50 is loosened, the assembly, which includes the air directors, oil nozzle, and associated parts, together with the ignition electrodes, may be pulled back out of tube 23 forcleaning, inspection, or

repair.

This assembly includes a cup-shaped body member (Fig. 2) having a circular back wall 53 and a cincularflange 54. The back wall has hollow hubs thereon-one coaxially located hub in which a rigid oil pipe 55 is fixed in a manner to allow axial adjustment (see Fig. 3), and two hubs which lie above the first hub and-in which are mounted in a manner to allow axial adiustment of the insulators 56 that support the ignition electrodes 51. The oil pipe 55 is connected by a flexible pipe 55' to the outlet of oil pump 28. Each electrode is attached to a conducting rod 58, which extends axially through the insulator and is threaded into a metallic piece 58 of hollow cylindrical form. The piece 59 carries a springpressed metallic pin 60. when the transformer 86 is swung into tube-closing position, the terminals 48 of the transformer engage, one with each of the contact pins 60 and thereby connect the transformer terminals to the electrodes.

The oil pipe 55 carries on its inner end a suitable atomizing nozzle, such for example, as the pressure atomizing nozzle 6|. The invention, however, does not depend on the type of nozzle is marked 16'.

used and other suitable types may be used as desired.

The air forced forwardly in tube 23 by the fan is spread outwardly by the back wall 53 and forced to travel forwardly in the annular space between the inner wall of tube 23 and the outer wall of a barrel $2. This barrela hollow cylindrical sleeve made up of sheet metal-contains one or more sets of air directors. The barrel is suitably fixed at its inner end, as by a press fit, to the flange 5G, and at its forward end abuts the inner face of a rounded deflector 63, fixed in any suitable way to the inner end of air tube 23. Fixed in the inner end of barrel 62 isa deflector 64 having a rounded end projecting beyond the deflector 63 and having also, a cylindrical portion which fits in the opening of the deflector 63 and serves to centralize and support the barrel 62 at its inner end. The outer end of the barrel is supported by a pair of axially-spaced webs G6, the lower edges of which are curved to fit the inner periphery of the air tube 23 and rest theredirectors is located forwardly in the air tube and at or about the same axial location as the oil nozzle 6|. These directors comprise acircular series of openings 68 in barrel 62 and a series of curved deflectors 69,0ne for each opening. Preferably there are a substantial number (16 as shown) of these openings. The deflectors 69 are so formed as to' cause the air to enter tangentially and whirl around the axis of the oil nozzle and, more particularly, about the fuel spray emitted therefrom. It is to be noted that the outer end edges of the deflectors 69 serve as limiting stops for the deflector 84 (Fig. 2). The second set of air directors is located rearwardly of the first set and comprises a circular series of openings 10. There are less of these openings (4 as shown) and each is larger than in the case of the openings of the first set. These openings 10 are intended to admit air, without whirling it. to the fuel spray.

Preferably, the interior of the barrel is provided with a nozzle-like partitioning member I2, suitably fixed, as by a press fit, in barrel 82 and having a frusto-conical portion "terminating in a cylindrical portion 14. This member 12 is so located as to prevent the air admitted through openings 10 from mixing with the whirling air admitted through openings 68 until at or near the exit 84 of the air tube. The whirled air, as shown, is kept outside and surrounds the air adcould be reversed if necessary or desirable.

Each set of air directors has a control valve.

As shown. each valve consists simply of a sheetmetal sleeve telescoped over, and slidably engaged with, the barrel 82. The valve for openings 10 is marked 16 and that for openings 69 Each is operated in the same way by similar means and only one such means will be described: corresponding parts of the other means being marked by the same reference numerals with the addition of a prime. The sleeve. 16 hassuitably fixed thereto at its rear. end, and near its lower part, an interiorly threaded lug 11. A rod 18 (Fig. 9), rotatably supported in part in one of the webs 65 and in part in an ear l9 formed on support 53, has a threaded forward end which is engaged in the nut-forming lug H. The rear end of rod 18 has fixed thereto a knurled head 80 having 'a central rounded protuberance which engages the rear web 65. A spring BI acts between this knurled head and the front web with a tendency to hold the protuberance engaged with the rear web. Any other suitable means of holding rod 18 against substantial axial movement may:

knurled heads as will 'be clear from Figs. '1-

I and 2.

The operation of the burner will next be described. On a demand for'heat, the motor 25 is set in operation, thereby actuating the fan 24 and the oil pump 26.

"peripheral wall of the barrel. tribution of air in tube 23 is greatly improved object of maintaining substantially constant the volume of air supplied to the flame.

It is to be noted that the arrangementfor admission of the air through the periphery of the air head is productiveof a more even distribution of the air around the circle of the fuel spray. If the air is unevenly distributed in tube 23, and it usually is, then the admission of air to the flame in a substantially axial direction would carry this non-uniform distribution of air to the flame andpoor combustion would result.

That is why the air, in many burners, is whirled.

An improved distribution of air is secured by the turbulenc created. Here, however, excellent uniformity'of air distribution is secured by preventing any air from passing axially through the rear wall 53. All air is forced outwardly and into the annular space between the barrel 62 and tube 23 and thence inwardly through the An uneven disby the described arrangement. In the present burner, therefore, the whirling of the air is not 011 is forced through,

pipes 55' and 55 to nozzle and is emitted j from the latter initially in the-form of a subforced downwardly into-chamber 20 and thence forwardly in tube 23 to issue through the air directors and supply the air for combustion of the fuel emitted fromnozzle 6|. ture is ignited in any suitableway, as by a high tension spark between electrodes 51--en'ergy for the same being supplied from transformer-35. The above is the usual operation common to all burners of this general type. A

This invention is characterized by the provision oftwo sets of air directors, each having a different influence on the flame. Air admitted tangentially through the openings and past particularly needed for the purpose of improving distribution. This is proved by the operation of the burner which on tests shows that there is relatively little difference in the efficiency of combustion whether the burner is operating with stantially conical spray. Air from the fan is all air obtained through slots 68 or all air obtained through slots 10. There is a. difference but it is not particularly great. Excellent com- The fuel miX- forward velocity left. Air admitted through the rear slots 10 has a free radial entrance and can pass forwardly inside the deflector I2, 13, 14, and acts'with considerable forward velocity on the flame, tending to elongate and narrow the same. sets of directors has different influences 0n the flame, it is possible, by using the valve control provided, to admit more air through one director and less air through the other director and vary the shape of the flame throughout a wide range. For example, by closing all the openings 68 with valve 16' all the air will be admitted through the rear set of openings 10 and act with its forward velocity on the flame with a tendency to elon-' gate it. An exceedingly long and narrow flame, almost pencil-like in shape, can be obtained in this manner. Now, if the rear slots III are all closed by the valve 16 and valve 16' is moved to fully open all the openings 38, then all the air admitted to the flame will whirl around the Since the air admitted through the two flame, creating turbulence and-having almost no forward velocity, and, the flame vwill be broadehed out andshortened. In this manner, a

flame having the shape of an umbrella is obtained. By opening both valves I6 and 16', the shape of the flame can be changed to various degrees between these two extremes. Of course, if one valve is opened more widely, then the other should be closed in proportion, with the the tube 23.

bustion is obtained in either case and the whirling of the air has its chief value here in its broadening influence on the flame.

It is to be noted that all the adjustments for controlling the rate at which air is supplied to the burner, are on the pressure or discharge side of the fan. The inlet to the fan is neverrestricted. Air is drawn in at the maximum rate possible and the-first restriction is at about. the

location where air is'delivered to the burner. It

follows that the air may be maintained at a much higher velocity up to its point of applica- The invention also provides a convenient means of dismo'unting the air head with its valves and the oil nozzle and spark electrodes. One simply removes hood l3, disconnects pipe 55, swings transformer 36 on its hinge to fully open the rear end of chamber 20, then loosens nut 50, whereupon by an outward pull on the parts 656B, the barrel- 62 and all -parts connected thereto may be withdrawn as a unit. One need not disturb the adjusted relation of the various parts. This'assembly of parts may be replaced with the same ease and convenience. The assembly is thrust inwardly through hole 31 into tube 23 until th front end of barrel 62 strikes the deflector 63. This will locate the assembly in the correct position axially of tube 23. When the assembly is thus positioned, the deflector 64 will have passed into the hole in deflector 63 will be accurately centered in the tubethe rear end being held up by the webs 65, which rest on The nut 531s then tightened, the oil pipe 55' reconnected, the transformer 36 is swung into closed position, and the hood it replaced, whereupon the burner is ready to be placed in operation again.

The present burner is exceptionally quiet in operation. Much of the spark noise has been prevented, from being reflected back through air tube 23. The path for the sound to travel is a devious one and, as a result, much less noise is had from this source than heretofore.

The invention provides a burner which is characterlzed by its flexibility to meet the widely varying conditions encountered in service. The burner may be simply and quickly adjusted to vary the flame within wide limits to fit flreboxes of various shapes and sizes.

I claim:

1. In an oil burner, inner and outer spaced coaxially-disposed tubes, a closure for said space at one end of each of the tubes, a closure for the opposite end of the inner tube, the other end of the outer tube extending beyond the closed end of the inner tube, means for supplying air to the last-named end of the outer tube and forcing it forwardly therein into said space, the forward end of the inner tube being open, and a nozzle for emitting a fuel spray positioned in the open end of said inner tube, said inner tube having in its peripheral wall two axially-spaced sets of openings each adapted to admit air into the interior of the inner tube and distribute such air uniformly around the axis of the inner tube,

one set of said openings being constructed to whirl the air around the fuel spray and the other set of openings being constructed to admit air radially without whirling.

2. In an oil burner, inner and outer spaced coaidal'ly-disposed tubes, a closure for said space at one end of each of the tubes, a closure for the opposite end of the inner tube, the other end of the outer tube extending beyond the closed end of the inner tube, means for supp air to the last-named end of the outer tube and iorcing it forwardly therein into said space, the forward end of the inner tube being open, a nomle for emitting; a fuel spray positioned in the open end of said inner tube, said inner tube having in its peripheral wall two axially-spaced sets of n J s each adapted to admit air into the interior of the inner tube and distribute such air unii'ormly around the axis of the inner tube,

.one set of said openings being constructed to whirl the air around the fuel spray and the other set of openings being constructed to admit air radially without whirling, and a nozzle-like member positioned coaxially of and within the inner tube, said member separating the air admitted through the first set of openings from that admitted through the second set of openlugs and directing the air admitted through the second set of openings forwardly in the directio of said spray.

3. In an oil burner, inner outer spaced coaxially-disposed tubes, a closure for said space, at one end of each of the tubes, a closure for the opposite end of the inner tube, the other end of the outer tube extending beyond the closed end of the inner tube, means for supplying air to the last named end of the outer tube and forcing it forwardly therein .into said space, the forward end of the inner tube beingfopert, a nozzle for emitting a fuel spray positioned in the open end oi. said innertube, said inner tube having in its peripheral wall two axially-spaced sets of openings each adapted to admit air into escapee air uniformly around the axis of the inner tube, one set of said ones being constructed to whirl the air around the fuel spray and the other set of openings being constructed to t air radially without whirling, and means for selectively controlling the air admitted into the interior of the inner tube, whereby all the air required may be admitted from either set of openings or partly from one set and partly from the other.

4:. In an oil burner, inner and outer spaced coaxially-disposed tubes, a closure for said space at one end of the tubes, a closure for the opposite end of the inner tube, the other end of the outer tube extending beyond the closed endof the inner tube, means for supplying air to the lastnamed end of the outer tube and forcing it forwardly therein into said space, the forward end of the inner tube being open, a nozzle for emitting a fuel spray positioned in the open end of said inner tube, said inner tube having in its peripheral wall two axially-spaced sets oi openings each adapted to admit air into the interior of the inner tube and distribute such air unlforznly around the axis of the inner tube, one set of said openings being constructed to whirl the air around the fuel spray and the other set of openings being constructed to admit air radially 4 without whirling, sleeve valves one for each set formly around the axis of the inner tube, one

of openings and each telescoped over and axially slidable on said inner tube, and means controlled from the last-named end oi'the outer tube for operating said valves the one independently of the other.

5. In anoil burner, inner and outer spaced coaxially-disposed tubes, a closure for said space at one end of the tubes, a closure for the opposite end of the inner tube, the other end oi the outer tube extending beyondthe closed end oi the in= ner tube, means for supplying air to the lestnamed end of the outer tube and forcing it forwardly therein into said space, the forward end of the inner tube being open, a nozzle for emitting a fuel spray positioned in the open end oi said inner tube, said inner tube having in its peripheral wall two axially-spaced sets of openings each adapted to admit air into the interimof the inner tube and distribute such air uni such set comprising a series of openings relatively small in size and relatively large in n .w. ber,ior whirling the air. the other set comprising a series of openings relatively few in number and relatively large in size for admitting air ra without whirling.

6. In an oil burner, inner and outer spaced coaxially-disposed tubes, a closure for said space at one end of the tubes, a closure for the opposite end of the inner tube, the other endof the outer tube extending beyond the closed end of the inner tube, means for supplying air to the lastnamed end of the outer tube and forcing it forwardly therein into said space, the forward end of the inner tube being open, a nozzle for emitting a fuel spray positioned in the open end of a said inner tube, said inner tube having in its the interior of the inner tube and distribute such peripheral wall two axially-spaced sets of openings each adapted to admit air into the interior of the inner tube and distribute such air uniformly around the axis of the inner tube, one such set comprising a series of openings relatively small in size and relatively large in num= her for whirling the air, the other set comprising a series of openings relatively few in number and relatively large in size for admitting air radially without whirling, the lastnamed set located rearwardly of the first-named'set.

7. In an oil burner, inner and outer spaced coaxially-disposed tubes, a closure for said Space,

at one end of each of the tubes, a closure for the opposite end of the inner tube, the other end, of

the outer tube extending beyond the closed end of the inner tube, means for supplying air to the last-named end of the outer tube and forcing it .forward-ly therein into said space, said supplying means having an unrestricted inlet for air, the

" forward end of the inner tube being open, a noz-E 0nd air-directing means, said two valve means being operable the one independently of the otherand each operable to vary or whollyshut of! the flow of air to its air-directing means, one air-directing means constructed to direct all the air supplied to it in a direction substantially par-j allel with the axis of the fuel spray, the other airdirecting means constructed to direct all the air zle for emitting a fuel spray positioned in the g open end of said inner tube, said inner tube having in its peripheral wall two axially-spaced sets of'opening's each adaptedto admit air into the uniformly around the axis of the inner tube, one set of-said openings being constructed to whirl the air around the fuel spray and the other set of openings being constructed to admit air radially without whirling, and means for selectively controlling the-air admitted into the interior of the inner tube, wherebyall the air required may be admitted from either set of openings or partly from one set and partly from the othensaid se-.

interior of the inner tube and distribute such air supplied to'it in a substantially spiral path'whirling it around thefuel spray, said valve means enabling all the air required for combustion to be admitted through either of said air-directin8 means or partly through one means and partly through the other means. a

9.. An oilburner, having in combination a pres- 7 sure atomizing nozzle having an orifice for emitting a substantially hollow conical spray of'fuel,

a first air director comprising a tube disposed lective control meansconstituting the only means for varying the rate at whichair. is supplied to the burner.

8. Anoil burner, having in combination, a

pressure atomizing nozzle having an orifice-for emitting a substantially hollow conical spray of fuel, a first and a second means for directing air to the fuel spray,said two means constituting the only means for directing air to the fuel spray, said air-directing means having inlets andoutlets, the outlets being located closely adjacent to each other andto the orifice of said nozzle and there being no communication between said two coaxially of said orifice and arranged to direct all the air supplied to it in a direction parallel to the axis of said spray, a second air director com-' prising .a circular series of fixed'and substantially spiral vanes surrounding the nozzle in coaxial relation with said orificeand arranged to whirl all the air supplied to them around said axis,'said tube and vanes having inlet and outlet passages, said tube preventing communication between the twoair directors at all points between said inlet and outlet passages, said two air-directors constituting the only means for directing air to the, fuel spray, both outlets being located in closely adjacent relation and closely adjacent to said, orifice, a common supplyfconduit for both said-- air directors and-with which. the inlets of the directors may communicate, and separate and independently-operable valve means or separately controlling the air supply to each air die rector, each valve means operable to entirely out off the air supply to its director when desired. said valve means enabling all the air required for combustion to be admitted through either one of said air directors or partly through one and P y t ou h the other.

WARREN 3. DE LANCEY'. 

